There are those who are vegan, then those who are "vegan". Yes, there are some people who call themselves vegan, but then sneak little bits and cheese, ice cream and milk chocolate here and there. It doesn't sound like it should be a problem, but it can have potentially greater consequences than one may believe.
Those "vegans" that do snag a little non-vegan food every now and then, tend to think that vegans who don't are "obsessed with the purity of being a perfect vegan." This assumption could not be further from the truth. It's not about being pure, it's about living in line with your beliefs and portraying an accurate image to outsiders.
For example, let's say you're vegan and at a wedding. A waiter bring you the "vegan" dish, which happens to be a pasta sprinkled with cheese. You can either be silent, or speak up. If you are silent, now people around who know you're vegan are going to say "oh, my friend is vegan, but they eat cheese sometimes." When those people decide to have a gathering one day and some different vegans attend, those people might now think it's okay for all vegans to eat cheese.
Also, the caterers will remember this the next time they have a request for a "vegan" meal and will not think twice about putting cheese on it again. This is because nobody said anything. If somebody had brought the problem to their attention, this situation could have happened quite differently.
If the vegan who received the pasta with cheese decided to say something about it, the chain breaks. The waiter and catering company now become aware that cheese is not something that vegans eat. The other guests realize that you're vegan all the time and are not willing to compromise on your ethics when you can avoid it.
The bottom line is that cheating a little bit here and there, really does not convey an accurate image of what being vegan means and can have long-lasting effects. We wouldn't accept cheating in other areas of our lives, so why would we do it here? Eating the cheese is not a life or death situation and you can easily avoid it. By eating the offending item, you are also subconsciously perpetuating the idea in other peoples' minds, that animal flesh and secretions are "normal" and "food."
Standing up for your true ideals may seem annoying at the time, but these situations hold a great deal of power in creating long-lasting impressions in the minds of others. This applies to all areas of life.
Check out the Vegetarian Food for Thought episode, Drawing the Line: How Vegan is Vegan?, for more insight into this issue.
Comments
Well, I had an avocado salad that was brought to me liberally garnished with cheese crumbs one time; there had been no mention of cheese on the menu description.
I explained to the waiter I was allergic to dairy so he took the plate back and picked off all the cheese, then brought it back. Since there were still crumbs clinging to the avocado, I suppose the real question is how stringent a person is willing to be—particularly when the person you're having lunch with thinks you're a nutcase anyway for avoiding meat and dairy.
Right, and in that situation, you did the right thing. You brought it to everyone's attention instead of just eating the aged secretion.
I understand this, but at times it's just plain rude to not accept something someone has tried to prepare for you while trying their best to follow your diet (veganism is actually very complicated when it comes to reading labels, especially for omnivores). Granted, telling them, "Oh, I don't really eat butter, but thank you for taking the time to make me this dish" and eating some of it is nicer and still saving the animals.
@sue
I disagree. I personally wouldn't even be able to bring myself to put the offending item into my mouth. To me, it's not food, it's an animal secretion that I need not eat.
I don't really understand how it's rude to decline. You can be nice about refusing it. What if it was against your religion to eat pork and someone made you a dish with pork in it? Would that also be rude to decline?
I agree with Sue. The bottom line is not about personal purity but about what is better for animals. I think that animals are better served by encouraging non-vegans to be open to veganism, which you are not going to do if you spurn their efforts to meet your dietary demands. A friend who makes a dish for you but accidentally includes some butter is someone to encourage not irritate (and yes it is irritating to make a special dish for someone and have it rejected). And if the rest of the guests are going to join you in this "almost vegan" meal then that's one less meat meal they will be eating.
By all means inform your host that butter is not vegan, but don't just sit there nibbling crackers and lettuce and making everyone feel awkward. What kind of ambassador for veganism would you be? They are not going to understand and they will likely be resentful. How is that going to keep anybody's mind open to change?
Ed,
Would you feel the same way if the meal had meat instead of butter? I see no moral difference between animal flesh and secretions. Having a bit of butter is no different from having a bit of meat.
When I look at animal products I see exploited and tortured animals. I don't want anything to do with them. And, I wouldn't consider someone who eats animal products occasionally a vegan.
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